STYLE ENTREPRENEUR – FUNMI FATONA TALKS ABOUT HER PASSION FOR PERFUME

Funmi Fatona, brand manager by day and Style Entrepreneur 24/7, is a multi -talented young woman with a love for perfumes and a passion for customer care. Addicted to jogging in d wee hours of the morning and her Bible at night, she fills the ‘precious’ hours in between with work, friends, family and twitter!We had a chat with her online, here are a few excerpts.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? I think I enjoyed a normal Lagos upbringing, with hints of aje-pako. LOL. Primary School in Surulere, Secondary School in Victoria Island, First Degree at Babcock University, where I studied Mass Communication, plus I served in Lagos. It seemed very sheltered, so I’ve tried, in all of this, to explore Nigeria one state at a time. I’ve been to most of the commercial cities, expect those in the East.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY? Sneaking out of secondary school to hang out with classmates at Double 4. I’ve always been a sucker for pizza.FOR HOW LONG HAS SIGNATURE SCENTS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS? Just 6 months! Amazing, yeh?

WHAT STANDS SIGNATURE SCENTS APART FROM OTHER COMPANIES OR PERFUME OWNERS? I would say best prices, customer service and delivery.

WHERE CAN IT BE PURCHASED?We are a perfume shop on wheels; therefore we deliver to your home or office @ a token fee.

ASIDE FROM SIGNATURE SCENTS, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? I work as a brand manager in a marketing communications company.

AS THE CEO OF SIGNATURE SCENTS, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE OR FACED WHEN YOU STARTED OR NOW? People (friends and family) buying on credit, which reduces cash flow and makes service delivery difficult. But we have worked out a system to ease up on this.WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST SIGNATURE SCENTS JOB LIKE?Our first massive supply was to a company that needed to give Christmas gifts to their clients. The MD was pleasantly surprised because he earlier thought our products were fake. It was exciting and a lesson in accounting. One I will never forget.

WHOSE JOB WOULD YOU LIKE TO STEAL?

Kimora Lee Simmons… Fabulousity @ its finest!

IF YOU WERE NOT DOING THIS BUSINESS, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? I’d be a talk show host, I think. Maybe I will, later in life.WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? Helping a customer find the perfect perfume (whether for themselves or a loved one) and then seeing or hearing the satisfaction when they’ve received the product.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST UNCOMFORTABLE PROFESSIONAL MOMENT?

I haven’t had one yet. Pray that day never comes!

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES IN THIS BUSINESS? It would be the customer, who is not too knowledgeable about perfumes, but wants to smell good. My aim, everyday is to provide guidance and products within his/her budget and to his/her ultimate satisfaction.

WHERE DO YOU SEE SIGNATURE SCENTS IN 5 YEARS OR YOUR CAREER IN FIVE YEARS?Signature Scents would be a trusted, household name in perfumes, with delivery nationwide and a few outlets in major cities of the federation. The most significant words there are trusted and household name. We plan to meet customers’ needs in such a personal and unforgettable way, that referrals and word-of-mouth will always be positive.Website – www.signaturescents.orgEmail – enquiries@signaturescents.orgTwitter – www.twitter.com/SignScentsOrgNumbers – +2348053361711, +2347032268537